In a disturbing incident highlighting rising intolerance and communal tensions, three youths have been arrested for attacking a man merely for wearing a saffron towel. The attack occurred on the night of August 24 at the Royal Travels Company in Bengaluru’s Kalasipalya area. The accusedTabrez, Imran Khan, and Aziz Khan were promptly arrested by Kalasipalya police and are currently being interrogated.
The victim, Slinder Kumar, along with his colleague Harikrishna, was working at the Royal Travels Company when the accused confronted them aggressively around 9:30 PM. According to reports, the assailants stopped Slinder Kumar and verbally abused him for wearing a saffron towel, an item often associated with Hindu religious and cultural symbolism. When Harikrishna intervened to de-escalate the confrontation, the attackers turned their aggression towards him, hurling abuses, tearing his shirt, and physically assaulting him. The accused loudly demanded that Harikrishna remove the saffron towel worn by the worker before fleeing the scene.
Harikrishna, the complainant, expressed concern over the incident, emphasizing that the saffron towel was worn simply to wipe sweat and had no intent to provoke anyone. “We have been running our business here peacefully for many years and live harmoniously with our neighbors. These youths are from another locality, and we had never seen them before,” he said. He also mentioned the support they have received from many locals following the attack.
Initially, the police registered a case under the Non-Cognizable Report (NCR) category. However, after court permission, a formal FIR was filed, charging the accused with hurting religious sentiments and disturbing public peace. The swift police action led to the arrests of the three accused, who were later sent to judicial custody.
Further investigations revealed that the assailants were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the attack. They reportedly raised objections without any reason when they saw workers wearing saffron shawls and demanded their removal. When questioned, they resorted to violence, attacking Harikrishna and Slinder Kumar before fleeing the scene.
The attack was captured on video and quickly went viral on social media, prompting widespread outrage and condemnation. Citizens and community leaders expressed concern over the rising incidents of intolerance and violence motivated by religious symbols. The incident has once again brought to the forefront the urgent need for fostering communal harmony and tolerance in diverse urban spaces like Bengaluru.
Police investigations into the accused revealed no prior criminal records. However, authorities are conducting a thorough inquiry to uncover any deeper malicious motives or connections behind the attack. A senior police officer stated, “We are looking into all aspects of this case to ensure justice is served and such incidents do not recur.”
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